Juanita Carruth was born on May 2, 1935, to the late Roosevelt Gray, Sr., and Hattie Mae Gray. She accepted Christ at an early age and was a member of Moses Chapel United Methodist Church in Ripley, MS, where she was a member until she relocated to Grand Rapids, Michigan. During her time at Moses Chapel, she was a member of the Golden Echoes, which was a singing group composed of her sisters and other family members. After relocating, she joined St. Luke A.M.E. Zion Church. She then moved her membership to Messiah Missionary Baptist Church where she was a faithful member until her health began to fail.

Juanita was a 1955 graduate of Line Street High School where she was named Valedictorian of her class. When she began working her first job, she always made sure to buy her baby brother a gift each payday. She would spoil him and take everywhere that she went. He enjoyed every minute of it. Later, she enrolled to Fosters Cosmetology School where she graduated and began working as a cosmetologist. In 1957, Juanita married Sammie Carruth and moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan. After moving to Grand Rapids, Juanita took on the role of mother to raise her niece Mary Louise Guyton Porter. She raised her alongside of her own biological children, assuring she was a part of their family. Soon after, she began working as a nurse at Greenview Manor where she was employed for 40 years. During her time at Greenview she received many awards for her dedicated years of service.

Juanita transitioned to her eternal rest on January 2, 2024, at her home in Grand Rapids where she was surrounded by her family. To cherish her memory, she leaves her husband Sammie Carruth; two sons Jerry and Marcus Carruth.